Eastbourne

Eastbourne's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to 2011. At the same time there were changes in marriage, health and religion.

The population passed 99,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Eastbourne increased by 11%, from just under 89,700 to 99,400.

The addition of just over 9,700 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Eastbourne was home to, on average, 16 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Eastbourne

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Eastbourne increased by one year, from 42 to 43 years.

This city had a higher average age than the South East and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 2,700 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 70 and 79 years decreased by just over 300.

About 12% of people in Eastbourne are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Eastbourne by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Eastbourne

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Eastbourne at a faster rate than across the South East.

In Eastbourne, the proportion of single people increased from 28% in 2001 to 33% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 29% to 32%.

Across the South East, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 29% to 32%.

The proportion of married people in Eastbourne fell from 47% to 43%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 13% to 14%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Eastbourne residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 10% to 6.2% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (78%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 64% in 2001. The percentage of Eastbourne residents that described their health as fair decreased from 26% to 15%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad decreased faster here than in any other local authority district across the South East. The improvement brought health in Eastbourne close to the regional average 4.4% in the South East described their health as good in 2011).

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Eastbourne decreased by 4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Eastbourne, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Eastbourne

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 32% said they had no religion. An increase from 18% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Eastbourne.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Eastbourne that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 65,000 in 2001 to just over 59,000 in 2011 (from 73% to 60%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 7,300 to just under 8,000. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 8.1% to 8.0%.

About 1,500 people (1.0%) said they were Muslim, up from about 880 in 2001 (1.5%).

The population without a religion in Eastbourne increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Eastbourne by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Eastbourne

The percentage of Eastbourne residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.1% to 3.9% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 6.7%, while the percentage of Eastbourne residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90% to 89%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Eastbourne at a faster rate than in Wealden (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Eastbourne).

In Eastbourne, the proportion of private renting increased from 14% in 2001 to 23% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Wealden increased from 6.6% to 11%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in Eastbourne fell from 16% to 13%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 68% to 62%.

Private renting in Eastbourne increased by 9.5 percentage points

Percentage of households in Eastbourne, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Eastbourne

In 2011, 94% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. An increase from 97% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Eastbourne.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Eastbourne from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 1,300 in 2001 to about 2,800 in 2011 (from 1.5% to 2.8%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 940 to just under 1,800 (from 1.1% to 1.8%).

Just over 780 people (0.4%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just over 340 in 2001 (0.8%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Eastbourne decreased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Eastbourne by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Eastbourne working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 13% to 8.9% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 25 (3.7%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.5% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Eastbourne decreased by 3.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Eastbourne, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households without children fell in Eastbourne, while rising in Hastings (one of the most statistically similar areas to Eastbourne based on ONS area classifications).

In Eastbourne, the proportion came down from 70% in 2001 to 68% in 2011, while across England it went up from 65% to 66%. During the same period, the regional proportion remained close to 62%.

The proportion of households with children in Eastbourne increased from 24% to 25%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 6.5% to 7.5%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of one-person households fell here, while rising in statistically similar Hastings.

In Eastbourne, the proportion came down from 38% in 2001 to 36% in 2011, while across England it went up from 36% to 38%. During the same period, the regional proportion remained close to 29%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Eastbourne increased from 8.0% to 9.5%, while the percentage of households with a married couple remained close to 27%.

The percentage of households with only one person was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Eastbourne residents that were studying increased from 2.8% to 3.9% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under one in two (50%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 48% in 2001. The percentage of Eastbourne residents that were unemployed increased from 2.9% to 4.1%.

The proportion of students increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students in Eastbourne increased by 1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Eastbourne, the South East and England that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Eastbourne residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.1% to 2.6% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.0%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 1.7% in 2001 to 2.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Eastbourne remained close to 2.6%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Eastbourne by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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